Is Lao Airlines safe? Safety band and record (Nov 2026)
4 Higher risk
Serious concerns: banned in the EU, or several weak points together.
- 1 Very low risk
- 2 Low risk
- 3 Moderate risk
- 4 Higher risk this airline
This is an estimate from public safety audits and lists, not a guarantee.
Worldwide, flying caused about 1 death per 13.7 million passenger boardings in 2018–2022.
The facts behind it
- Home-country ICAO audit score: 72.9% (Laos, 2015)
- IOSA safety audit: not registered
- EU air safety list: not listed
- Last fatal accident: not checked yet
- Fleet: 13 aircraft
What sets the band
- Home country Laos: ICAO audit score 72.9% (average of the 8 audit areas, last audit 2015), so the band starts at 2.
- Not on the IATA IOSA registry: one band down.
- 54% of the fleet is turboprop: one band down.
All inputs
- IATA IOSA registry: not registered.
- EU Air Safety List: not listed.
- FAA safety assessment: the home country has not been assessed (not a red flag).
- ICAO significant safety concern: none open.
- Fleet: 54% turboprop (7 of 13 aircraft).
Context (not part of the band)
- Accident history: not checked yet.
Sources
- ICAO USOAP: Lao People's Democratic Republic, average of the 8 audit areas (last audit 2015) · checked November 3, 2026
- ICAO USOAP: states with a significant safety concern · checked November 3, 2026
- FAA IASA program results (18 Apr 2025) · checked November 3, 2026
- IATA IOSA registry: not registered · checked November 3, 2026
- EU Air Safety List, 48th update (9 Jun 2026): not listed · checked November 3, 2026
Reviewed by Vincent Trienpont on November 3, 2026. How the band works Report a correction Lao Airlines